Emergency Medical Response and Public Safety

A newly released report from Connecticut Inspector General Eliot Prescott finds that after Bridgeport police shot 39‑year‑old Dyshan Best in the back on March 31, 2025, the first ambulance dispatched to the scene was diverted to transport a white officer having a "mild anxiety attack," forcing Best, who is Black and bleeding from severe internal injuries, to wait roughly 10 extra minutes for a second ambulance. Prescott concluded the shooting itself was legally justified because Best was armed and the pursuing officer reasonably feared for her safety, but highlighted troubling details about the post‑shooting response, including paramedics’ notes that police rushed them to "take their partner" and provided no information about the officer’s condition. Officer Erin Perrotta, described as "visibly hysterical" and covered in blood, reportedly declined treatment in the ambulance, saying "I am fine, I just needed to get out of here," while Best arrived at the hospital around 6:22 p.m. and died at 7:41 p.m. from a wound that damaged his liver and kidney. The report does not state whether the delay contributed to Best’s death, but his family says they believe he might have survived with faster transport and are calling the case a murder, as Bridgeport police launch an internal affairs review and Perrotta remains on administrative leave in an unrelated matter. The incident is fueling renewed scrutiny of how police prioritize medical care after shootings, racial disparities in treatment, and the degree to which state oversight bodies are willing to question life‑or‑death decisions made at chaotic scenes.